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T O P I C R E V I E W

crash

I thought it was time to let people see my son's Long March CZ-2F rocket model. It is made from Lego-type bricks and originates from China. It's about 1.25m tall and has a satellite that goes in the payload section. It took a fair old while for him to build with a little help as the grey bricks just seemed to go on forever. Pity it isn't white.

Alongside are models of the same CZ-2F in 1:150 and 1:300 scale (the little one is actually a pen that is well disguised).

Ronpur

Those are all awesome! Does the "Lego" set have a capsule under the shroud?

crash

Thank you for that. Not a capsule but a satellite type vessel with folding panels that you can just spy lurking behind the model down on the left. I have never seen this model outside of China. Luckily, I go there a fair bit.

Robert Pearlman

quote:Originally posted by crash:I have never seen this model outside of China.

I imagine that is because it violates LEGO's patent on the brick designs (a rather common and unfortunate trait among Chinese toys and other products).

It's a great looking model, but would be even better if it used a unique building block design or was licensed by LEGO. Still, I'm sure it brought your son a lot of fun building it...

Ronpur

I have often wondered if they even still hold a patent. There are several companies that make building toys that use the same design. Apparently in 2010, the European Court of Justice ruled that the eight-peg design of the original Lego brick "merely performs a technical function [and] cannot be registered as a trademark."

crash

Whether LEGO have a patent on a particular feature of their bricks, I don't know, but I have seen lots of different manufacturers, all over the world, making a similar product. Even in the US there is KREO which is the openly on sale in stores with no obvious lawsuit pending. I don't think the Chinese have done anything wrong in producing this model. It is fully packaged and is marketed under a different brand name. There is no mention of LEGO or anything sounding like it.

Robert Pearlman

On further reading, it appears LEGO's patents have expired and the company has had mixed success on defending the brick designs based on trademark claims (the Danish company did win a case against a Chinese company but lost suits filed in Canada and Europe).

That said, according to Wikipedia (emphasis mine):

Several Chinese brands manufacture exact copies of Lego elements using pirated molds, which often are listed for sale online significantly cheaper, or just under retail price in Asian locations. These include Ligao, Kazi, Wange, Decool (specialising in the Ninjago line) and Brick.

Ronpur

Well, they are still the best, regardless. Many of the alternate building blocks are made from inferior plastic that cracks or is too soft to stay together without glue.